Poll spending cap too high: Finch

By
MATT MALONEY

RETURNED Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch has called for a review of electoral spending guidelines.

At the declaration of polls are Independent Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch and his wife, Carole. Picture: PAUL SCAMBLER

RETURNED Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch has called for a review of electoral spending guidelines.

Mr Finch, who was returned in the weekend's Legislative Council election for a third term, used his speech at the declaration of the polls in Launceston yesterday to urge for a reduced expenditure cap in future campaigns.

Mr Finch said the Legislative Council elections needed to be accessible to ordinary people who wished to run independently, and that the $14,500 election cap should be lowered.

``There is a wide disparity between an independent candidate and one with all the resources of a party machine,'' he said.

``We've got to make the opportunity (for candidacy) accessible or else the only ones able to afford the increase will be the parties, and that's to be avoided.''

Mr Finch also slammed the Liberals' tactics over the election campaign, which he said involved running misleading advertising messages designed to misrepresent his voting record.

Liberal candidate Don Morris said he had struggled to win votes against the electorate's high regard for Mr Finch, and a preference for independents in the upper house.

He said he had encountered voter confusion over boundaries during the campaign, with many voters unaware that they lived in the Rosevears electorate.

Mr Finch defeated Mr Morris by more than 4000 votes in Saturday's election, with the final tally 11,712 votes to 7689.